Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-08-06
AVOIDABLE DEATHS

been of late so abnormally large as to com
pie examinations into causes, both direc,
and secondary. A brisk discussion has
sprung up as to the poisonous qualities OF
swill milks The burden of testimony
seems to be that distillery slops may be
safely fed with discretion, in connection
with other foods, but that it rarely is fed
with discretion There is no escaping the
fact that the majority of the cows thus fed
are soon diseased, and that their milk is nc
flesh; but the milk is used by tens of thou
sands, and when the animals are killed,
the flesh is also used. We are accustomed
to elevate our noses at those
Indian tribes that dine joyfully of the
carcasses of ancient horses that have
an ancient smell; but our civilized habits
are infinitely more dangerous to life and
health than such bsrbecues of bar
barism
There is no question about 1t that large
percentage of the deaths of infants is di
rectly owing to the food they are COM
PEELED to swallow. 1t is direct and not in
direct poison. Are such deaths avoidable?
Not until adults appreciate that their own
case is little If any better. What is death
outright for the babies is disease and death
remote for the parents If our vision were
able to detect the bacteria and analyZe the
complex stuff that we buy at our city
doors, we should be saved from death, be
cause our stOmachs would refuse to re-
ceive the stuff.
The subject of adulterated foods has
been prominently before us for several
years. To some extent there has been re-
form, but 1t is we'll known that all cheaper
grades of food are impure. Spices, tea,
coffee, flour, whatever can be ground for
market, rarely appears for what 1t truly Is.
Wines and liquors 1t Is useless to refer to.
Their consumers understand that they are
being drugged and poisoned.
Human life has become q matter Of In
creasing Importance. Civilization has for
its chief end to make life worth living,
and living to the full. 1t is criminal TO
tamper with and destroy the enjoyable.
ness and usefulness of living. Life was
sacrificed cheerfully in the middle ages
for whim or q religious notion; but the
future grows less palpable to us as the
present grows more valuable This Is the
result of wider information and an increas
possibility of intensifying comforts;
but still more It Is the result of the
liberty of action now enjoyed, and the In
crease of personal responsibility It seems
intolerable that one should lose his life by
that we should be slaughtered by wretches
who do it for few half pennies Of profit
A few days ago hotel on the seashore,
full of summer boarders, was closed, owing
to poisonous ice. A sickness broke out
1t is no longer In order TO
lay such things to Providence. There Is
cause for every consequence, and natural
cause st that. The proprietor, instead of
betaking himself to prayer, went to
chemist. The cause was found TO be
bacteria again-bacteria 10 the ice The
cause was removable, but already the
boarders had fled, and the anly possible
course was to close the hotel
In a school In New Y ork State last spring
disease suddenly broke out which pros
trated in rapid succession a dozen pupils.
Ii was diphtheria In a malignant form
Four died, and the rest fed. The school
broke up in haste, and at a total loss to
principal and teachers. Here the cause
was found to be q defective drain Our
large cities are full OF fever spots and
diphtheric holes The sanitation l.
never perfectly carei for. Half the yards
and cellars in ST. Louis are miasmatic II
only needs the atmospheric conditions ~
start the fever, and the devil il loose
II is useless TO undertake 10 point out
more than illustrative instances The
death rate In our healthiest cities is twice
as high as ii shcnld be. Most deaths as
they occur are avoidable Naturally the
bulk of men shoule live to ripeness They
do nothing of the sort, but are nipped By
the shears Of shifileness and neglect
Whatever NAV be our theories Of govern
men. we must learn To see that the let
sloBe principle In matters of sanitation Is
fatal The most rigid and MEMORABLE laws
are needed; and the whole business Of pub
lie health mnst be n control of the state.
IL New York City the officers have Ia
stituted sharper supervision Of milk. and
raids sire make to suppress the sale Of the
products Of disttlery fed COWS. In New
Haven careful inquiries have been made.
showing ihst Of 25S children who died III
der years of age, IA per cent were nursed
by their mother: but y were wholly boxle
fed on cows milk. and the rest were % fed
when taken Ill While Ee are assaiitng
yellow fever, consumption and hycnopho-
bia with hopes Of victory. . worse enemy
Is AZ our doors. Sanitation Is the dr<i Of
laws because II h the law OF self prcserss-
ton Globe Democrat.
The west IL developing. Scot: county